Paul Walker’s Girlfriend Broke News of His Death to Daughter as Details About Vehicle Defect Arise

Paul Walker's death in a fiery, one-car, two passenger crash at a charity event in Los Angeles (Nov. 30) has shocked and devastated his fans and friends, perhaps none more so than his longtime girlfriend Jasmine Pilchard-Gosnell.

The couple was together for seven years, and reportedly it was she who was tasked with breaking the news to Walker's teenage daughter Meadow. Additionally, new details about the crash suggest there was a steering fluid leak that may have caused the wreck.

Pilchard-Gosnell, 23, is said to be in "so much anguish" over his passing. Jim Torp, an engineer at the Reach Out Worldwide charity, had to tell her the news about the tragedy.

The actor had gotten into a Porsche GT along with his friend, Roger Rodas, an experienced driver. Torp's son was on site and called his father to tell him about the crash. "I got a phone call from him and he said it didn’t look good, that from the looks Paul and Roger didn’t make it," Torp revealed. "Paul’s girlfriend was standing next to me when I got the phone call. When I told her what happened, she fell, she collapsed.

It was Pilchard-Gosnell who then relayed the news to Meadow, who was actually on site at the event. "I believe she is the one who told Meadow about what happened, and when she found out, she was hysterical and crying," Torp continued. "It was just so sad. I tried to do everything I could to help them. Paul’s girlfriend then took Meadow and drove her home. I don’t know if they drove to crash site. I just know they were in so much anguish."

A family friend also said that Walker and his daughter enjoyed a terrific relationship, saying, "She was the love of his life, he was an amazing dad and he was so happy that she chose to live with him because he never felt like he got enough time with her." The source also said, "They were like two peas in a pod, they loved hanging out and playing video games or basketball or going to Disneyland."

How tragic.

The cops have said that a high rate of speed was a factor in the crash, but it appears a factory defect may also have contributed to the accident.

Sources linked to Always Evolving, the shop where the $500,000 vehicle was both stored and maintained, which was also co-owned by Walker and Rodas, have said that it was a mechanical failure and likely a steering fluid leak. They cited evidence of a fluid burst and a fluid trail before the skid marks. They point to an absence of skid marks up until right before the point of impact.

If Rodas had lost control, skid marks would show swerving. But they don't. The road marks were in a straight line, which suggest that Rodas was not in control of the steering.

Another piece of evidence is that the fire spread quickly to the front of the vehicle. Flames should be where the engine is, which is the rear. But a front fire strengthens their fluid leak theory.

The car was not modified and was hardly driven, so a failure would be factory-related, which has us thinking a lawsuit will eventually come down the pike. Plus, Rodas knew what he was doing behind the wheel. Despite his high rate of speed, he still would have maintained control.